Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
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Esso Northumbria

Posted by peter cook on 21/4/2025, 6:47 am

Esso Northumbria being launched 2nd May 1969. Arrived for breaking up at Kaohsiung, Taiwan 7th May 1982.

Re: Esso Northumbria

Posted by Ian Clark on 21/4/2025, 8:41 am, in reply to "Esso Northumbria"

Great photo Peter I can remember watching the launch from the Ballast hill when I was eight

Re: Esso Northumbria

Posted by Mac Cummings on 21/4/2025, 11:16 am, in reply to "Esso Northumbria"

Broken up after just 12 years of service.
Google tels us......The ship was plagued with problems both with its fittings and more seriously, with cracking of the hull under stress. It needed many repairs in its short working lifetime and this, together with fears of a major spill, prompted its retirement in 1982 after only 12 years in service.

Re: Esso Northumbria

Posted by Geordieboy ns on 21/4/2025, 11:48 am, in reply to "Re: Esso Northumbria"

Mac Cummings, my thoughts also about long levity. Thank you for the photo Peter. Happy Easter Monday

Re: Esso Northumbria

Posted by Stan Wears on 21/4/2025, 12:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Esso Northumbria"

When the bottle was smashed on the bow,it refused to move. It was quickly remedied with a heafty blows from a sledge hammer which sent vibrations through the Hull which made it overcome the refusal. I was told that by the late Harry Donnelly a superintendent for Esso.

Re: Esso Northumbria

Posted by Joseph on 21/4/2025, 4:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Esso Northumbria"

Tanks were a total nightmare to strip, good money but by hell you worked for it, could be wrong but am sure there was a local lad lost his life in one of the tanks.

Esso Northumbria

Posted by Norman on 21/4/2025, 5:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Esso Northumbria"
Edited by board administrator 21/4/2025, 5:51 pm

I remember a young shipyard worker called Burdis died in an accident aboard a Ship in Leslies (or possibly Palmers). He was an ex St Aloysius lad born 1940s.